Well for life

Promoting physical activity

Seminar Overview• What is physical activity?• Types of physical activity• Potential benefits of physical activity for older

people• Factors contributing to participation

(or not) in physical activity• Key clinical considerations• Case examples• Application

Definition of physical activity

Early 1990s• Recommend 30–40 minutes moderate to high density

activity, 3–5 times a week (American College of Sports Medicine Guidelines, 1990)

• Focus on cardiovascular fitness

Recently• Recommend to accumulate 30 minutes a day of

moderate intensity activity (The Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, 1996)

• Includes structured and incidental activity• New term: ‘active living’

Types of physical activity

• Structured/formal physical activity• Incidental activity• Physical activity related to

recreational pursuits

There are many different types of physical activity, encourage people to be as active every day in as many ways as they can.

Physical activity can be divided into three broad areas:

• Disease prevention• Potential physical benefits• Functional benefits • Psychological and social benefits

Potential benefits of physical activity

Effects of lack of physical activity / deconditioning

• General health• Psychological• Social• Hospital/nursing home admissions• Mortality

Motivators for physical activity

• Increased awareness of the potential improvements in health and independence

• Knowledge that change is able to be achieved

• Encouragement from key people• Enjoyable/social/functional contexts• Environment/procedures conducive to

physical activity

• Individual

• Social

• Structural

Barriers to physical activity

Can be divided into three different types:

Stages of change model

Five levels to move through:• pre contemplation• contemplation• preparation• action • maintenance

It is also important to respect people’s wishes if they are not ready to become more physically active.

Screening and AssessmentPrior to considering changes to a person’s level of physical activity find out: • The person’s current level of physical activity• If the person is not undertaking sufficient physical

activity, why not?• The medical conditions the person has• Is the person experiencing any specific problems

possibly due to a lack of physical activity?• What are the person’s current or previous

interests?

Is there a need to refer onto someone with more experience and knowledge?

Need for diversity in physical activity options

spectrum of physical activity capacity

high level

low level

Independent livingolder people

People needing community services

People in residential care

Consider:

• Range of individual abilities within each level of capacity• Range of individual preferences for physical activity

Physical activity options• Structured physical activity programs

– Physiotherapist prescribed exercises– Strength training– Balance classes (including Tai Chi)– Other classes

• Walking• Incidental and leisure activities

Changes can be achieved by making changes in current lifestyle, for example, walking instead of driving to the shops, or by trying to do a little more each day of currently performed physical activities.

Functional incidental training• Sample of cognitively and/or

mobility impaired nursing home residents

• Randomly allocated to:– Prompted voiding (4 hourly)– Prompted voiding + FIT (walking/sit to

stand/transfer practice)

• FIT group achieved improvement in walking and standing endurance

Even people with significant physical impairment can improve

with the right activity

General issues for discussion • How well are older peoples’ interests and needs

in terms of physical activities (past and present) known by staff?

• What physical activity options are available in your area for the older people you see? (consider structured, leisure and incidental activity)

• How can carers/families be involved in supporting older people to increase activity levels?

• How can you help identify where improved nutrition may help improve physical activity?

• How can your organisation support and motivate older people to increase their activity levels?

Case studies: Points to consider

1. What problems is this person experiencing? 2. Is this person performing sufficient physical

activity for a health benefit?3. What are some possible options for improving the

older person’s activity level?4. Is there a need to involve others (health

professions, general practitioners, family/friends)?

5. What are some of the potential barriers to these options, and how might they be dealt with?

Case studies: Points to consider

6. How can you support and motivate the person to increase his/her physical activity levels?

7. Would an assessment of nutrition risk be of potential benefit for this person to help improve physical activity?

8. What can you do at the organisational level to support older people increase their physical activity levels and with whom do you need to work?